Back in 2018, the NFCA honored the Univ. of Michigan and Virginia Glory’s efforts to raise awareness and donations for the Strikeout Cancer initiative. It was so impressive that we at Extra Inning Softball would list it as one of our Top 15 Stories of the Year.
Click HERE to read the original story… and note that this year’s tourney will be July 17-18 in Fairfax County, Virginia (more details can be found on the event’s webpage).
The amazing drive of the Glory club team to keep the spotlight on battling pediatric cancer continues to this day.
Below you’ll read about how it began and why it’s so important still to the head of the fastpitch program…
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For any athlete, the main reason to practice and prepare is to play the game.
Coach Suzy Willemssen, founder and director of Glory Fastpitch based out of Northern Virginia, brings passion, love and purpose to playing the game of softball, yes, but also using the common dominator of her love of softball to help raise money to fight cancer.
Now in its 7th year, Glory’s annual summer StrikeOut Cancer tournament and College Coaches Camp has raised over $200,000 for pediatric cancer research at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC.
This year’s event runs from July 16-to-18 and will be played across Fairfax County in Virginia.
If you’ve been around Coach Willemssen for, oh, less than a minute, then you know how energetic she is and driven to make a difference between the lines and off the field.
She founded Glory to be an organization that is purpose driven and, in her own words:
“When you have a platform, you have a responsibility to use it for something bigger than yourself.”
To that end, the StrikeOut Cancer tournament draws high profile coaches and teams from across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, all with the same purpose: play great softball for the benefit of children who can’t.
This year, 88 teams from eight states and over a dozen college coaches from programs like national semi-finalist James Madison and Division III National Champions Virginia Wesleyan will be attending Glory’s annual event.
Inspired by Rob Hahne, Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League, and their partnership with Kyle’s Camp baseball tournaments and Children’s National Medical Center, Glory StrikeOut Cancer began as a 10U only affair in 2015.
Ten teams participated that first year and the organization raised $3,000. At the conclusion of that first event, the feedback from coaches about the cause and the structure of the competition was very positive.
The following year, in 2016, it was a 12U tournament with nine teams that produced the donations. Because of the odd number of teams, Willemssen introduced a feature usually only seen at large national championship events: the blind draw. However, these early tournaments were in May, so older teams could not participate due to the high school season.
The older Glory teams asked to be a part of the event so by the third year (2017) it was moved to July and the field expanded to include 14U and 16U teams. Coach Willemssen had numerous college coach connections—many from working camps herself—so having a college coaches instructional camp the day before the tournament to help raise more money for the cause was added.
Coach Jennifer Herzig of James Madison has been leading the camp and is a driving force behind its success. In 2018, the Virginia Glory became the No. 1 fundraiser for the National Fastpitch Coach’s Association StrikeOut Cancer Initiative; a title they retained in 2019 and intend to retain in 2021.
Great competition and the blind draw have been a continuing feature of the tournament through the years and the founder says she appreciates the support the cause has received over the years.
Coach Willemssen begins:
“We’re grateful for the consistent and strong support of many organizations who have numerous choices to play elsewhere during the summer showcase season. Local organizations like the Northern Virginia Girls Softball Association Firebirds, the Shamrocks, Loudoun Liberty, Virginia Lady Lightning Gold and Inferno always send teams.”
“Out of town organizations such as the Conklin Raiders, Empire State Huskies, PA Chaos, PA Stingrays, PA Krunch and Tri-State Thunder are also year-in and year-out supporters. Asked why he brings his team every year, Mark Tomasetti, (Head Coach, PA Chaos 18U Gold) said, ‘It’s a great cause with great competition and something I want to be a part of.’”
Other highlights through the years include umpires contributing their game paychecks for pediatric cancer research and kids bringing their own contributions in glass jars.
USA Softball also prioritizes this event and has provided great support. In recent years, corporate sponsors have participated and add matching contributions to the money raised through tournament and camp fees.
Finally, every year is a team effort from parent volunteers who prepare and maintain fields in all weather conditions.
Perhaps the most memorable event so far was in 2018. The Glory’s very own softball team member, Maddie Elias, was at Children’s National undergoing chemotherapy treatments the week before the tournament.
She made an appearance the following week during the tournament and inspired everyone.
This summer’s 2021 event will undoubtedly bring big hits, timely bunts, strikeouts and great plays.
But more than that, it will once again bring the softball community together to help children fighting cancer.
